Katherine Feinstein, who as presiding judge steered San Francisco Superior Court through a series of debilitating state budget cuts, is retiring after more than 12 years on the bench and is open to running for public office, she told The Chronicle.

The 55-year-old daughter of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein downplayed, however, the possibility of vying for her mother's seat if the state's senior senator does not run in 2018, saying her mother shows no signs of slowing down.

The judge also indicated the Senate would be a big step for a neophyte to elected office, even one steeped in politics since childhood.